I want to be able to access all 3 HD TIVOS from any of the 3 rooms.

Thanks vid53

It sounds as if you are looking for a matrix switcher. Extron and Audio Authority come to mind.

Yeah I would def go with a matrix switcher, it will cost you, but you can watch from any location and also watch the same on all locations. I agree about the other brands but I ran across a company called SignVideo which has decent pricing too.

Our new Borrego 8x4 would be a good fit for this. It will also give you some room to expand. See the link in my sig. Digitalconnection.com and hdtvsupply.com a retailers for the product.

I've been looking at matrix switchers for awhile...There seems to be no middle price/performance point. You have the one extreme of 8x8 units typically costing $1200 to $2500 and the lower 4x2 units costing around $200 to $300. I wish someone would make an economical 4x4 unit that likely cover many residential applications and price it around the $400 to $600 range.

With regards to a matrix switcher, I have seen many recommended, 2 of which are referenced here. How does the Key digital product compare to the two mentioned here and others like the Elan V883 for HD/Ananlog signal distributing of 3-4 sources independently to 3-4 different TV's.
Thanks

Does anyone know which of these swithchers, if any, can handle both digital and analog audio. By that I am looking for something that can accept in either analog or digital, and allow any stream (regardless of whether it was input in analog or digital) to be sent out via it's native format or the other).

Hopefully that makes sense.

As an example, I would like to be able to input an analog audio signal, and be able to watch/listen to it in a zone that has digital audio output as well as a zone that has analog audio ouput. Same thing for an input that is digital audio.

Looks like the Neothings Borego offers both analog and digital audio, just not sure if they can be converted back and forth.

Any other matrix switchers that could handle this?

I've been looking at matrix switchers for awhile...There seems to be no middle price/performance point. You have the one extreme of 8x8 units typically costing $1200 to $2500 and the lower 4x2 units costing around $200 to $300. I wish someone would make an economical 4x4 unit that likely cover many residential applications and price it around the $400 to $600 range.

You could go the used route. I have a couple for sale in the theater accessories forum.

CJ

The Borrego does not convert from digital to analog or back. If you go in analog you have to come out analog.
Best way to handle this is to run both digital and analog audio to those zones where you can use both types of audio.

I'm with you Robertmee. I'm looking for an HDMI or DVI matrix switcher, but it should be a KVM as well. Four outputs, and at least four inputs.

That way, I can have the following inputs:
- Computer #1 (mine)
- Computer #2 (wife's)
- Computer #3 (HTPC), or DVD player, or receiver that has selectability of various inputs, but that adds complexity
- Cable HD DVR (ideally two of them for different channels though)

And the following displays:
- 20" Widescreen LCD (office)
- 20" Widescreen LCD (kitchen)
- 20" Widescreen LCD (somewhere else)
- Front projector (home theater)

The problem is that it doesn't include audio, so I'd have to connect the audio outputs on the source devices to another audio distribution method, such as the Russound CAV6.6. Then I would just have to turn on that source in the zone that is at the display's location if I actually cared to have sound at all (usually just TV at that location).

I'm just not a fan of spending $2000 on a Gefen 4x4 DVI/USB Matrix Switcher (http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=1464), and would want a better remote than the IR one provided. The 3x6 layout is ridiculous - why not keep the old layout? Maybe you can use the old remote with the new version - I'll check into that.

I suppose I could put one remote at each location and put a sticker or use a sharpie to indicate which display is being used, and we would just have to learn the order (1st is mine, 2nd is hers, 3rd is HTPC, 4th is TV, or whatever).

I suppose it wouldn't be that bad to have the audio separately selected at the display though, since you may want to continue listening to the radio from the in-ceiling/wall speakers even if you're changing sources. To me though, the cost is the deal stopper for me.. Maybe at half that price.

Bill, may be a dumb question but will the Avalon or Borrego distribute a mixture of HD and SD video and audio or HD only? I suppose that I could upconvert all incoming signals to HD and make sure every tv on the stream was an HD...

Chris

The Avalon can switch HD component video and digital audio (coax and optical) only.
The Borrego can switch HD component video, SD composite video, and stereo analog audio, all independently. It won't convert any of those signals, so you have to run both to the display if you expect to watch mixed sources.
So for example, say you have an HD Tivo connected to input 1 with component, and a VCR on input 2 connected with composite. For output zone 1, if you want to be able to switch to either input 1 or 2, you will need to run both video outputs to that zone.

Have anyone tested both products (Neothings borrego 8x8 vs. Elan 883)? Can anyone tell me the main differences betweek the 2?

I am looking to to have a mixture of HD and Non HD displays for viewing the content. Eventually I will have HD everywhere, but right now I will still have non-HD in 2 areas.

My sources will be a couple of HD DVR's, DVD, Blue Ray. I understand that HD contect will not be viewable on a standard Def TV, however I want to be able to view regular content. My wife and I will record certail shows in HD and in standard Def so we can watch the shows we want in what ever area we are in the house.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Bob

Don't know if I am stating this the right way, but I also have a requirement to allow this switcher to be controlled from a CQC (Charmed Quark) or Media Lobby server. Here is the list of ones that I have looked at on the web, with notes of where I think theres support for external control. (I had to disable links, as I am a newbie)

1. Audio Authority - The AVAtrix seems like the Grandaddy, but its like $3.5k; supports DVI (but not switching it out - not sure how that works). The cool thing about this is that you can send the component video via Cat5/6 around the house. Looks like it has serial control via RS232)
2. Video Storm - I like this one, but it doesn't appear as polished as the AVAtrix. Lower entry point from a cost perspective and appears to switch DVI (~1k), but it doesn't look as polished as the AVAtrix. Serial control, and stated drivers ready to go from Media Lobby (they have it on their website).
3. Zektor - This does not look like it supports more than 1 output.
4. Cable Electronics - Can't tell if this fits in or not; another send-it-around via Cat5 solution. Looks like you can control it with IR.
5. Autopatch - This one is mentioned a whole lot, and has the CQC/ML control via RS-232.
6. Extron - Looks really cool, but also daunting like the Autopatch; I like that it has IP-based control support. Also, the website appears to be very helpful.

Is there some fundamental difference here with video matrix switchers (like AutoPatch and Extron and the other ones?

Any experiences that can be shared?

I have the VideoStorm CRM62 with the digital board and it is a pretty good unit. It is similar to the AVATrix when it comes to output since it only has 1 hdmi/dvi output. This isn't as much of a problem since neither format handles long cables very well. Top that off with an ever changing spec, what are we on now 1.3, and it becomes a non issue.

If price were on object I would recommend the AVATrix since it gives a little cleaner install especially if you are placing your receiver/amp in each room or need to expand the system later. It is high on my list for the next round of upgrades.

Quality differences between the units have too many variables to accurately compare. Cable lenghts, quality of cable, how it was run, display type and quality, source signal the list goes on. I have seen brand new AutoPatch units that looked horrible and eBay ones they were great. There really aren't any "bad" units out there unless you are buying some Krazy Joe's switch.

Don't know if I am stating this the right way, but I also have a requirement to allow this switcher to be controlled from a CQC (Charmed Quark) or Media Lobby server. Here is the list of ones that I have looked at on the web, with notes of where I think theres support for external control. (I had to disable links, as I am a newbie)

CQC supports all the Neothings matrices via a single driver.

I want to be able to access all 3 HD TIVOS from any of the 3 rooms.

Thanks vid53

Vid53, did you buy a matrix switch, if so which one?

I have the VideoStorm 8x4, but I don't have the DVI/HDMI board (although I did test it.)
This is a great unit. It can switch audio and video independently and supports both digital and analog audio. I have 2 HD TiVos, 3 DVD changers and a DVD Recorder all running through it. I have been using it to drive a CELabs Cat5TX/RX pair but I have also used it to drive Component through a 100' component cable I built. (Yes, 100 feet worth of Canare 3xRG6....looks like a garden hose. :) )
Anyway, I love the VideoStorm switch and they have a new 8x8 or 16x16 model (The CRM88) which should be released in April.....

I purchased the Videostorm cs62 I believe, and it works great! 4x2 component matrix switcher.